This viral plane hack can get you coveted extra legroom – for free

There’s a new travel trend soaring high – and it requires even less planning than raw-dogging flights.
When traveling by plane, there’s nothing more appealing than extra legroom or getting a whole row to yourself, especially on long-haul flights.
Now passengers are hopping on a new trend dubbed “check-in chicken” to get that small in-flight luxury.
When check-in closes, the leftover seats tend to be the more wanted, including those with extra legroom. Chalabala – stock.adobe.com
With check-in chicken, travelers will intentionally delay their online check-in to the last minute in hopes of a better seat. The method relies on the fact that airlines will often charge extra for better seats, split up groups and initially assign fewer desirable seats.
When check-in closes, the leftover seats tend to be the more coveted ones, including those with extra legroom.
Just like in the game of chicken, the point is to push your luck to the limit and eventually get the desired outcome and your opponent folds. In this case, your opponent is the airline — and your desired outcome is a comfortable seat.
Google searches for “check-in chicken” have surged 126% in the past month, according to data from Google Trends and Glimpse, as of Oct. 31.
One TikTokker who recently posted about the trend, @cheapholidayexpert, said that while she has been successful — and apparently “can’t remember the last time I didn’t get an extra legroom seat because of doing this” — there are some risks to the game.
With this travel twist on the game chicken, passengers intentionally delay their online check-in in hopes of securing a better seat. DavidPrado – stock.adobe.com
One of those issues is that if you check in too late, there might not be any seats left at all.
“This is because airlines can overbook planes due to the chance that a small percentage of passengers won’t show up for the flight,” she explained.
Her top tip is not to leave your check-in until the last moment and instead peruse the seating plan throughout the day so you can nab a spot when only “good seats” are left.
Experts at UK vacation site Travel Republic echoed that statement, advising travelers to monitor the seating chart online.
“Many airlines release the final seating chart as boarding time approaches,” they said in a statement shared with The Post. “Using the airline’s app or website, you can often see which seats are still available and move closer to an empty row.
“For added flexibility, some airlines even allow passengers to swap seats up until just before boarding, making it possible to find extra legroom or a more spacious option at the last minute.”
In addition, Travel Republic suggested talking to the gate agent since they can sometimes accommodate seat moves based on attendance and availability — especially if the flight isn’t fully booked.
Lastly, they said that boarding last and watching for any seat-swapping opportunities can be helpful.
“Sometimes passengers move or are reassigned due to family groupings, special requests, or upgrades,” the site said. “Being one of the last to board may allow you to spot an empty row and claim it if the airline permits.”